A study of the comparative economics of conventional and zero traffic systems for arable crops

The profitability of four zero traffic systems were compared with a conventional system on a farm growing combinable crops. The zero traffic options were 6-m tractor and 6-m gantry-based systems, a system using both 6 and 12 m gantries and a system comprising both conventional equipment and a 12 m gantry. Yield effects due to compaction and wheeling losses are estimated. A systematic procedure is described for calculating the soil compaction due to the system, and the work rate of both cultivation and application type operations, as a function of the system.

The yield increases and cultivation energy savings indicate that complete gantry systems are as profitable as conventional systems on medium soil and £25 ha⁻¹ more profitable on heavy soil. The tractor-based system, which cannot plough, is £18 ha⁻¹ less profitable on medium soil but £25 ha⁻¹ more profitable than the conventional system on heavy soil. With the exception of the partial gantry system, which can be fully utilised on a 250 ha farm, farms of 400–500 ha are needed to justify use of the zero traffic equipment considered.